Wallingford

Ancient earthworks still ring this Thames-side market town, where Saxon kings once held court and Agatha Christie spent her final decades. Wallingford feels properly old England - medieval streets radiating from a market square that's seen centuries of trade, all wrapped by those impressive 12th-century ramparts.

The town centre runs on a human scale. Independent shops line the high street, while the War Memorial stands as a focal point for the community. Round the corner, you'll find the wonderfully eccentric Wallingford Phone Box Museum - one of those brilliantly British curiosities that makes perfect sense once you're there. Christie fans shouldn't miss the Agatha Christie gallery, celebrating the crime writer's long connection to the area.

Beyond the medieval core, Broadway Gardens offers a peaceful retreat, and golfers can test themselves at The Springs Golf Club. The Thames Path runs right through town, perfect for riverside walks that stretch in both directions along the valley.

Wallingford sits in prime Oxfordshire countryside, with the Chiltern Hills rising to the south and the Vale of White Horse spreading north. Didcot's just down the road for rail connections to London, making this a proper base for exploring the region without the Oxford crowds.

Camping nearby puts you within easy reach of both the town's attractions and the surrounding downland walks. Several sites dot the area, from traditional camping at Swiss Farm Touring and Camping to more luxurious options like Rolling Fields Glamping. The location works brilliantly - close enough to nip into town for supplies or dinner, far enough out to enjoy the Oxfordshire countryside properly.